IIHR - Hydroscience and Engineering

08/20/2026

Meet the Iowa Integrated Network for Science, Information, and Geospatial Health Tracking (INSIGHT) Advisory Board!

Six esteemed experts will serve on the advisory board for Iowa INSIGHT; a new research initiative working to identify environmental factors contributing to Iowa’s high cancer rates and other adverse health issues. These distinguished leaders will help to guide and strengthen Iowa INSIGHT’s mission and impact.

• Laura Beane Freeman (National Cancer Institute);
• Mark Borchardt (USDA Agricultural Research Service, retired);
• Rima Habre (University of Southern California);
• Keeve Nachman (Johns Hopkins University);
• Heather Stapleton (Duke University); and
• Jennifer Teerlink (California Department of Pesticide Regulation)

We’re grateful for the expertise and leadership these professionals bring to Iowa INSIGHT and look forward to working with them to build a healthier, more resilient future for Iowans.

View the link in the comments for more details about the advisory board.

University of Iowa College of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa, University of Iowa Center for Advancement, The University of Iowa College of Public Health

08/19/2026

08/17/2026

The Iowa Water Quality Information System (IWQIS) provides real-time water quality data for all Iowans. IWQIS tracks nitrates, pH, dissolved oxygen levels, and other key indicators that help Iowans better understand the health of our rivers and streams.

Despite its value, the future of IWQIS remains murky. After initial bridge funding support from the Walton Family Foundation ended, counties, municipalities, conservation organizations, and individual supporters stepped up to help keep the network running. Their critical support has extended monitoring efforts, but future funding is uncertain.

In a guest blog for the Iowa Environmental Council, IIHR research scientist Martin St. Clair details what's at stake for Iowa's water quality monitoring network and why sustainable long-term funding matters.

A link to St. Clair's full guest blog can be found in the comments.

08/17/2026

Some Iowa waterways contain such high levels of nitrate that monitoring equipment has had to be upgraded to capture them.

At the Boji Cleanwater Jam in Okoboji, IIHR Director Larry Weber explained that in some areas, standard monitoring equipment has had to be replaced with sensors capable of measuring up to 100 mg/L, after levels exceeded the upper limits of the old equipment. The EPA standard for safe drinking water is 10 mg/L.

“Our rivers in Iowa are in the top one percent of [nitrate concentrations in] streams in the nation,” Weber said. “We’ve got to do better with that if we want Iowa to be a livable state in the next 30 years.”

Get the full story from Explore Okoboji in the comments.

08/10/2026

Caden Branum, a rising third-year student at Grinnell College, came to his summer job at IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering at with a strategy in mind.

“I was thinking, if it goes well, I will already know some people and have connections with professors.”

That’s exactly what has happened, and he’s also gained lots of experience in fieldwork and electronics.

“I’m meeting great people that are doing interesting research. It’s just so captivating,” Branum says. “It’s in all different areas as well. And I just find it so interesting.”

Read more — link in the comments!

University of Iowa College of Engineering

08/04/2026

When we talk about water quality today, the conversation often focuses on nitrates, PFAS, viruses, and pharmaceuticals. Facing the issues of today, it's easy to forget how far we've come.

More than 100 years ago, Iowa waters faced very different challenges.

"Imagine riverbanks lined with sludge, floating solids and congealed mats of grease in the rivers, obnoxious sewage odors, fish kills, and other pollution conditions..." says Keith Schilling, director of the Iowa Geological Survey.

At the time, cities did little to regulate sewage and other waste discharges, leading to huge bacterial blooms. Beginning in the 1930s, advances in wastewater treatment started transforming water quality, with improvements continuing to this day.

Want to learn more about this chapter of Iowa's water quality history? Read Schilling's guest article for the Iowa Environmental Council at the link in the comments.

08/04/2026

IIHR is excited to participate in Johnson County Conservation's Experiential Education Summit!

Our session will be led by Marty St. Clair, a research scientist who leads IIHR's water quality monitoring network. Marty will provide an overview of the monitoring network, demonstrate how to access data through the Iowa Water Quality Information System, and lead a hands-on water quality testing demonstration that can be adapted for the classroom.

If you're interested in seeing water quality monitoring in practice and exploring ways to bring these concepts into your classroom, be sure to check out IIHR's session alongside the many other fantastic offerings at this educational event.

We hope to see you there!

07/28/2026

Thank you, Linn County Conservation, for your support of the water quality sensor network! It's an important step that will have long-term benefits for Iowans.

University of Iowa College of Engineering

Linn County Conservation OKs $100K for UI water sensors ⬇️ Click the link in comments to read more

07/27/2026

Recently, we had the opportunity to host a group of Iowa legislators for a tour of IIHR’s facilities and an overview of our research.

The day began with an introduction to IIHR, the Iowa Flood Center, the Iowa Geological Survey, and the newly formed Iowa INSIGHT program. Following the overview, attendees toured IIHR’s world-renowned wave basin facility, where researchers study ship hydrodynamics for the U.S. Navy and other applications. The final stop was Hydraulics Annex 2, where legislators saw one of IIHR Engineering Services’ latest projects— a large-scale dam model that demonstrates the real-world impact of our work.

By the end of the day, our guests left with a deeper understanding of the breadth and depth of research taking place at IIHR and how it benefits Iowans, from flood mitigation work to groundwater assessments.

We are grateful for the opportunity to share our work and appreciate that legislators took time out of their busy schedules to learn more about our facilities, programs, and research. A special thank you to Rep. Elinor A. Levin for arranging this tour for fellow legislators. We look forward to welcoming them back for future visits and continuing the conversation about how IIHR research serves Iowa communities.

University of Iowa College of Engineering, Iowa Flood Center, Iowa Geological Survey

07/20/2026

We’re hiring!

IIHR is looking for an environmental field assistant to support our research mission. You’ll contribute to the support of IIHR’s robust water quality monitoring network, ensuring that the data collected are accurate and reliable. This position includes regular travel across the state of Iowa.

If this sounds like a good fit for you, or someone in your network, apply today at the link in the comments!

University of Iowa College of Engineering